Scripture: Psalm 51: 1-3
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Scripture Commentary:
God referred to David as “a man after his own heart,” found in 1 Samuel 13:14, because David had demonstrated his commitment and faith in serving God. David protected the sheep from the lion, and David defeated Goliath. God anointed David to be king over Israel. God showed mercy and protected David from Saul, who sought to kill him. All of humanity has a sinful heart and falls short of loving God and loving each other the way we should.
David wrote this Psalm after Nathan, the prophet, told him the story of the rich man and the poor man. The rich man took the only sheep that the poor man had to cook instead of using one of his own sheep. Nathan tells David that he is like the rich man, when he sent Uriah to the front line in battle to be killed so that he, David, could have Bethsheba as his wife. Bethsheba was Uriah’s wife.
God shows us mercy and forgives our transgressions.
We can go to God as David did, seeking God’s forgiveness for our transgressions. Through God’s loving kindness and multitude of tender mercies, God will forgive us for our transgressions. There are consequences for our transgressions. God’s judgment in David’s case was the death of Bathsheba and David’s son. In our case, it will be whatever God’s judgment requires of us. But remember this, God’s love for humanity is forever, and he will never leave or forsake us. Never.
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